Unorthodox grant massaging at Chico budget discussion

Competitors race along Main Street as the Chico Palio event kicked off Artoberfest in City Plaza on Sept. 10, 2011. Artoberfest organizer Debra Lucero asked for $2,000 less than last year's $12,000 from the city, but zero was recommended.(Jason Halley/Staff File Photo)

CHICO -- A variety of economic development and tourism programs walked away from a city funding meeting with empty hands, but one long-term program found money restored through unorthodox means.

The Chico Area Recreation and Park District found the usual $2,000 in city money for its Fourth of July community celebration was wiped out as part of a winnowing of the economic development and tourism budget.

On Wednesday, Ann Willmann of CARD asked the Economic Development Committee to restore her funding, citing the celebration's age, partnering with other organizations, and a Chico tradition.

Describing a difficult process of recommending allocations, City Manager Brian Nakamura said he did the best he could, using the city's economic development strategy as a guide.

Pitching in for CARD, City Councilor Sean Morgan recommended taking $750 each from Chico Chamber and Downtown Chico Business Association, which were both funded at their requested amount.

That left CARD with $1,500, when the conversation turned to personal checks, city travel allowances, and turns at the dunk tank during the Fourth to make up the gap.

Nakamura said he would take a turn being dunked in the water. Morgan and the other councilors, Mark Sorensen and Scott Gruendl, each murmured about checks and dunk tank turns. Gruendl wondered if councilors' travel allowances could be used.

Also asking for her funding to be restored was Debra Lucero, organizer of Artoberfest.

Lucero had asked for $2,000 less than last year's $12,000 from the city, but zero was recommended. Coupled with other funding, the $10,000 served two purposes — being the cash match for a state arts grant while paying for the printing of the Artoberfest booklet.

Lucero said she had already cut back the program last year, not advertising outside the region.

While the committee considered an every-other-year kind of funding cycle, Lucero said that wouldn't work for Artoberfest, which had earned momentum after nine years and had businesses reliant on the annual program.

Not being able to print the booklet, which outlines the events and markets the businesses, would hurt the campaign. She noted that many of the 100-plus events that make up Artoberfest create something special for October.

Chico Chamber CEO Katie Simmons offered to work with Lucero so that a chamber fall booklet would market the events.

After the meeting, Lucero said she couldn't understand how the city could not fund programs that bring in dollars to the community.

"It's really appalling behavior. Our city deserves better. It's not about funding a single event or marketing campaign anymore. It's about the disproportionate manner in which management is taking taxpayer dollars meant for the community and spending it on themselves."

Lucero was referencing city officials brought on by Nakamura who will be making more money than previous officials in those positions.

Other programs that have received city funding previously but didn't for 2013-14 included the Center for Economic Development at Chico State University, Innovate North State and Chico World Music Festival.

Of eight applications equaling $185,350, Nakamura's recommendation was for $113,350 in funding, with some organizations at zero. That was slightly above the 2012-13 allocation of $112,000.

The largest allocation was to a group of organizations: Chico Chamber, 3CORE, DCBA, Alliance for Workforce Development for business outreach and services to employers at $60,000.

The chamber also was recommended for $38,000 for visitor center operations, and the DCBA was recommended for $15,350 for Friday Night Concerts and downtown holiday events.